PHOENIX, AZ. — The Sparks finish out a three-game trip in Phoenix, taking on the seventh-place Mercury for the second time in a week after capturing the season series with a narrow 78-75 victory at Staples Center last Sunday.

With just four regular-season games remaining, the Sparks (18-12) sit in fourth place in the overall standings, 2-1/2 games behind the Atlanta Dream (21-10) for the second seed. Meanwhile, the Mercury (17-14) clinched a playoff spot, but are currently seeded seventh.

The Sparks split a back-to-back in New York and Atlanta on Thursday and Friday, topping the Liberty but falling to the Dream. In each of the contests, the starters played heavy minutes for Sparks coach Brian Agler, as each game was close down the stretch, and Los Angeles was in a competitive position down to the final buzzer.

Throughout the season, the Sparks have been led by the big three of Candace Parker, Nneka Ogwumike and Chelsea Gray, who have collectively thrived in Agler’s slow-paced offense, and hard-nosed defense. And while Parker and Ogwumike have proven themselves to be perennial MVP candidates, perhaps the stark improvement of Gray over the past two seasons has given the Sparks a much-needed jump amid the slight dropoff of Odyssey Sims.

Averaging 15.0 points per game and 5.3 assists per game, Gray has emerged as a reliable late-game option, making the Sparks incredibly difficult to guard on the offensive end. Before the setback at Atlanta, L.A. had won three straight games since the All-Star break, and will hope to end its season on a high note during this final stretch.